Humidifying apparatus



Sept. 20, 1955 J. D. CONTI HUMIDIFYING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 4, 1952 .hvllllllllllllllllll IIIIIILi.

@Jil-11-21-5411--LA INVENTOR. JOHN D. CON T/ A 7' TRNEY.

Sept. 20, 1955 J. D. CONTI HUMIDIFYING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 4, 1952 G Ma United States Patent O Humanismo APPARATUS John D. Conti, Elkins Park, Pa., assignor to American t Viscose Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware This invention relates to a system for humidication of various traveling materials, such as sheets of cellophane, traveling fabrics, warps, or any other material of indefinite length adapted to be continuously passed through a predetermined path.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an efficient system of compact form adapted to impart predetermined humidity to articles of any type such as mentioned hereinabove. An ancillary object is to provide a compact humidification unit which is capable of properly humidifying continuous articles or webs while they travel at high speeds through the device without the disadvantage of creating an excessively humid atmosphere outside the device. A further object of the invention is to provide a humidifying system which is adapted to prevent the dripping of condensation onto the traveling web so that it is uniformly humidified throughout its area during the entire operation of the system. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the drawing and the description hereinafter.

In the drawing, which is illustrative of the invention,

Figure 1 is a vertical section taken on line I-I of Figure 2,

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the entrance end of the device, with parts thereof in section,

Figure 3 is a plan View of the device,

Figure 4 is a section of an element,

Figure 5 is a similar section of another element, and

Figure 6 is a vertical section through a modification.

As shown in Figures l to 5 of the drawing, the web to be humidified may pass through the device from right to left as viewed in Figure l and a guide roll 3 may be provided adjacent the entrance end to control the entry of the web. A similar guide roll 4 which, if desired, may be cooled as by the continuous introduction of cold water or chilled brine, may serve to control the travel of the web as it is discharged from the device. The rolls 3 land 4 may be supported independently or, if desired, by suitable bracket means, such as 5 attached to the supporting framework of the humidifier. l

The skeleton framework for supporting the humidifier as shown comprises a pair of horizontal transverse angle irons or channels 6 supported on four angle irons 8 which extend downwardly. A cover or platform 7 is secured to the top of members 6. Transverse angle irons 9 and 10 extend between the vertical members 8 and longitudinal lateral angle irons 11 and 12 extend between thel transverse members 9 and 10 respectively formmg thereby rectangular frames 9, 11, 9 and 11 at the top and 10, 12, 10, and 12 at the bottom and rectangular frames at each end formed by members 8, 9, 8, and 10. Inside corner angle irons 120 may also be provided to rigidly secure these upper and lower frames together.

This framework may be suspended from above or below, as desired, and it may be positioned adjacent any conventional device which operates upon a lm in such a manner as to require humidication or rehumidication.

For example, it may be placed at the end of a drying Mice system, such as the system that is used for drying initially produced cellophane or any other plastic film which` may require rehumidification. It may be disposed adjacent the discharge end of a drier for fabrics or warps which have been used to dry fabrics or warps after they have been treated with a sizing or finishing material or after they have been washed of such a coating material. It may be disposed adjacent the discharge end of a printing machine or device used to print the web with any decorative or informative matter. Alternatively, it may be disposed all by itself adjacent a system for unwinding a continuous web, such as paper, cellophane, fabrics or the like from a rewound package thereof and suitable Winding means may be provided for rewinding the material after humidiication. If desired, however, the material may be cut transversely and stacked in piles of individual sheets after the humidification.

Upon each of the top and bottom frames a wall or panel of insulating material 13 is provided. Similar walls or panels 14 are provided at the sides and extend between corner members 8 and overlap the edges of panels 13. End Walls or panels 15 are of insulating material and are also provided between the corner posts 8 and between the end edges ofthe top and bottom panels 13 and of the side panels 14. The end panel 15, where the web enters the housing thus formed within the in sulating panels, is provided with a transverse slot 16 which serves as the entrance port. The other end panel 15 is provided with a similar transverse slot 16a which serves as the exit port for the web. Preferably, the ports extend midway of the height of the end panels.

The chamber formed between the top panels 13, the end panels 15, and the side panels 14 constitutes a humidiication housing and, adjacent the entrance 16, a pair of ducts 17 and 18 extend transversely of the direction of travel of the web through the housing. These ducts are spaced apart to provide therebetween a passage 19 in alignment with the entrance 16. Suitable supporting means such as the channels 20 may be provided for securing the ducts rigidly in the position shown. A slot 21 extends the entire length of the duct 17 in the bottom panel thereof and a similar slot 22 extends the entire length of the upper panel of the duct 18 to provide entrance parts to the suction ducts. The width of each of these slots may be adjusted by means of the slide plates 23 each of which is connected by a pair of rods 24 to a knob or handle 25 outside the housing. The rods 24 extend through close-fitting bores in the panel 15 through which they may be slidably adjusted by manipulation of the knobs 25. A damper 26 pivotally mounted on shaft 27 is provided adjacent one end of each duct 17 and 18 respectively where such ducts connect to the suction duct 28 of a suction fan or blower 29 which discharges through the duct 30. The shafts 27 extend through closetting bores in the walls 15 by which they may be rotated by means of the handles 31. The suction fan 29 may be driven by motor 32 mounted on the platform 7 above the housing.

Between the ducts 17 and 1S and the discharge port 16a, the web passes between a plurality of rows of nozzles for directing steam, vapor, or humidified air against the web. A plurality of' pipes 34 are disposed above the path of the web and extend between parallel lateral headers 35. Each pipe 34 is provided with a plurality of orificed nozzles 36 spaced apart substantially uniformly the length of the pipe. Also, each pipe 34 is bent so as to be somewhat higher in the middle of its span than at its ends. This facilitates run-out of any condensate. As shown in Figure 4, the nozzle element 36 is screwed into the pipe 34 at an angle from both the horizontal and vertical and it is of such length that the inner end of element 36 is in the upper zone of the interior of the pipe, therestrips 44a.

by preventing any liquid condensate from entering the bore of the nozzle. The nozzles 36 are directed at an angle to the traveling web in opposition to the direction of travel of such web so that the steam or humidified fluid discharged by the nozzles impinge against the oncoming web. Similar pipes 34a, higher in the middle than at their ends, are disposed transversely of the web beneath its path of travel and are provided with a corresponding plurality of oriced nozzles 36a which are disposed to direct their jets against the traveling web at an acute angle from beneath. As shown in Figure 5, the

`nozzle 36a is a short element and extends into the upper region of the interior of the pipe 34a so that any liquid condensate flowing in the pipe cannot enter the nozzle. The pipes 345i extend between and communicate with lateral headers 35a. Steam or other source of humidity is supplied to the lateral headers 35 and 35a by means of the transverse headers 37 and 37a respectively which are connected by suitable conduits 3S and 38a to a common source of steam or other humid atmosphere. A s shown, the conduits 3S and 38a extend through suitable bores in one of the side panels 14 of the humidifier. The lateral headers 35 and 35a may be sloped downwardly slightly from the right toward the left as viewed in Figure l and discharge conduits 49 and 46a respectively may be connected to the lower ends of each of the lateral headers. The conduits 40 and 40a may discharge to the atmosphere through suitable traps 41 and 41a or to any Waste disposal system. Since the pipes 4t) extend downwardly from the lateral headers 35, they are out of the Way of the traveling web and do not interfere with its passage through the device. The upper header system may be suspended within the housing by four rods 42 which may be pivotally connected to lugs 43 rigidly secured to the upper surface of the lateral headers 35. Rods 42 extend through tight-fitting bores in the top panel 13 and cover 7 and are held by nuts 46.

Similar-rods 42a are connected by lugs 43a to the bottom of lateral headers 35a and extend through closetting bores in the bottom panel 13 and then through nuts 46a which bear upon the transverse strips 44a which rest upon angle irons 12.

A drip pan 47 fits snugly Within the four walls 15, 14, 15, and 14 and rests upon the bottom wall 13 and receives It may be provided with upstanding anges 48 around each of the pipes 4t) and 40a. A heating coil 49 is secured adjacent the top panel 13 within the housing and is connected by its end t) to a suitable supply of heated fluid, such as steam and discharges from the coil through areturn pipe 51. A similar heating coil 49a is disposed in the drip pan and is supplied with steam by its end 50 and discharges at end 51.

vAn important auxiliary feature of the present invention is the provision adjacent each of the ports 16 and 16a of means for preventing deposition of condensate upon a traveling web as it passes through such ports. This means comprises a strip 52 of absorbent material, such as felt, velvet or the like secured to the panels 15 adjacent the slots 16 and 16a just inside the chamber. It also comprises heated pipes 53 supported right against or in close proximity to the inside face of the felts. Both felts 52 and pipes 53 extend the full length of the slots and the pipes may be connected to a common source of hea-ting fluid, such as steam. As shown, the pipes 53 adjacent each port may be formed as a loop (see Figure 2) and the heating medium may be introduced by means of a header 54 into the upper length of pipe 53, the medium passing through the upper length, then through the loorrj 55 at the other end down to the lower length of pipe 53 and then back to the other side of the chamber where it is discharged through a conduit 56. The pipe 54 may extend between the top pipes 53 adjacent each port and be supplied by a common feed line 57. The discharges pipes 56 may be connected to suitable traps. As shown, the pipes 53 are preferably attened where they extend alongside and in contact with the felts 52 so as to assure a large area of contact between the felts and the pipes.

In operation, the web proceeds about guide roll 3 into the humidification chamber through the port 16. Adjacent the entry port 16, the web rst meets the humidied atmosphere within the chamber supplied by the nozzles 36 and 36a. The suction fan 29 is so adjusted, as by controlling the plates 23 or the dampers 26, that a slight amount of steam or vapor is allowed to escape through the on'ce 16. This assures that the web passes through a relatively quiescent but still moving zone o-r body of humid atmosphere adjacent the port 16. As it proceeds through this relatively quiescent body of vapor extending from port 16 to the vicinity of the slots 21 and 22, the web is preliminarily humidified in a uniform manner. Then, it proceeds through a more rapidly moving but still not highly turbulent body of humid atmosphere from the vicinity of slots 21 and 22 to a region between the headers 37 and 37a. Herein, a Lfurther uniform absorption of moisture occurs. The passage through these stages thus prepares the iilm for more rapid acceptance of the humidity throughout its area so that when it is impinged upon more or less locally by the nozzles 36 and 36a the area which is between the points of impingement rapidly accept the humidity supplied by such impingeinent and the areas directly impinged are not unduly favored. As shown, the nozzles in succeeding pipes 34 and 34a are preferably staggered relative to those in each adjacent preceding pipe to enhance the uniformity of humidication.

The system provided is extremely efficient and uniformly hnmidies the films or sheets or other webs passed therethrough. Materials, such as cellophane, which are in a badly wrinkled condition because of previous local printing and irregular drying out caused by the heating of the printing to set it, have been freed of wrinkles com` pletely by passage through a humidied system constructed in accordance with the present invention having an overall length of five feet even at speeds as high as 500 feet per minute.

While the disposition of the unit in Figures 1 to 5 is shown for horizontal travel of the lm therethrough, it may be oriented at any angle to the horizontal including the vertical, though dispositions near the horizontal are preferred.

Figure 6 shows a modification which is quite similar in construction to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5, and accordingly, corresponding elements in Figure 6 are designated by the same reference character as in the first embodiment except that the suffix b is applied to each character. In the embodiment, the strucutre is shown up-ended so that the article or articles to be humidied may proceed vertically upward or downward relative to the device. y As shown, the article proceeds downwardly through the entrance 16h provided in the end 15b which is disposed at the top of the system and is discharged through the exit 16ab in the bottom end Wall 15b. The side panels 13b have the heating elements 49h and 49ab disposed adjacent them, and the slot adjusting plates 23b are manipulated from above by handles 25b. The dampers 26h in the ducts 17b and 18b are mounted on a common shaft 27b which is adjusted by the handle 31b. The suction duct 28h extends upwardly alongside the device as in the first embodiment, and the suction fan and motor, not shown, may be suitably supported above the housing, out of the way of the article or articles proceeding to the entrance slot 16h and out of the way of the handles 25h.

In this embodiment, the transverse pipes 34b and 34ab are provided with nozzles Stiab corresponding in disposition to the showing in Figure 5 but arranged to direct their jets upwardly' at an acute angle toward the opposite faces of the traveling article or articles. The transverse pipes 34h and 34ab have their middles somewhat higher than their ends which communicate with the vertical headers 35h and 35ab. These vertical headers are supplied with steam by the transverse headers 37b and 37ab which are connected to the supply lines 3817 and 38nb respectively. The bottom ends of one or both headers 35b and one or both headers 35ab are connected to the Waste pipes 40b and 40a!) respectively which may be connected to traps as in the previous embodiment.

Heating coils 53h are disposed adjacent felts 52b which are adjacent the edges of the entrance and exit openings 1Gb and 16ab respectively. These elements 53b may take the same form as in the previous embodiment, but as shown, they are not lattened, and a double coil is provided on each side of the entrance opening at the top.

In operation, the embodiment of Figure 6 is essentially the same as that of the first embodiment described. It is, of course, adapted to situations where there is' more vertical room than horizontal and it is more convenient to pass the article or articles during humidiication in a vertical path rather than a horizontal path.

It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for humidifying a running web and the like comprising a housing having wall panels of insulating material at the top, bottom, both ends, and both sides, an entrance slot in one end wall panel and an exit slot in an opposite wall panel, a strip of absorbent material lining the inside upper edge of the entrance and exit slots, a heating element mounted inside the housing adjacent the lining, means inside the housing for introducing a humidifying medium, suction means for withdrawing medium from the interior of the housing, a heating element disposed adjacent the top panel within the housing, a drip pan carried on a bottom wall of the housing, and a heating element mounted in the drip pan.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the heating elements comprise heating coils extending back and forth across the full width of the housing and from one end to the other thereof.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which the absorbent material is formed of felt.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 comprising a strip 6 of absorbent material lining the lower inside edge of the entrance and exit slots.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which the humidifying means comprises two groups of nozzles, one on each side of the path of the web through the housing, each group comprising a plurality of rows thereof extending transverse of the path of the web, the nozzles in each group being inclined to direct their jets toward the path of the web and being inclined toward the entrance slot.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which the nozzles of one row are staggered in a direction transverse of the web relative to the nozzles in another row.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 comprising adjustable means for controlling the application of suction to opposite sides of the web adjacent the entrance slot.

8. A method of humidifying a running web of cellophane comprising passing the web longitudinally of itself through a path, providing a relatively quiescent humid atmosphere adjacent one portion of the path on both sides thereof, providing in the next portion of the path on both sides thereof a relatively uniformly moving stream of humid atmosphere flowing countercurrent to the direction of travel of the web, and in a subsequent portion of the path on both sides thereof directing a humid vaporous medium, such as steam, in a plurality of jets disposed transversely of the web on both sides thereof and directed at an inclination to the web so as to impinge against the web locally at high velocity and in countercurrent flow.

References Cited in the Jrile of this patent UNTED STATES PATENTS 1,359,141 Alexander Nov. 16, 1920 2,008,230 Spooner July 16, 1935 2,012,115 Woodruff ...Aug 20, 1935 2,225,505 Offen Dec. 17, 1940 2,255,859 Quigley Sept. 16, 1941 2,464,119 Dawson Mar. 8, 1949 2,499,572 Dunakin et al. Mar. 7, 1950 2,574,844 Roden Nov. 13, 1951 2,592,691 Hart Apr. 15, 1952 2,627,667 Gillis Feb. 10, 1953 

8. A METHOD OF HUMIDIFYING A RUNNING WEB OF CELLOPHANE COMPRISING PASSING THE WEB LONGITUDINALLY OF ITSELF THROUGH A PATH, PROVIDING A RELATIVELY QUIESCENT HUMID ATMOSPHERE ADJACENT ONE PORTION OF THE PATH ON BOTH SIDES THEREOF, PROVIDING IN THE NEXT PORTION OF THE PATH ON BOTH SIDES THEREOF A RELATIVELY UNIFORMLY MOVING STREAM OF HUMID ATMOSPHERE FLOWING COUNTERCURRENT TO THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL OF THE WEB, AND IN A SUBSEQUENT PORTION OF THE PATH ON BOTH SIDES THEREOF DIRECTING A HUMID VAPOROUS MEDIUM, SUCH AS STEAM, IN A PLURALITY OF JETS DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY OF THE WEB ON BOTH SIDES THEREOF AND DIRECTED AT AN INCLINATION TO THE WEB SO AS TO IMPINGE AGAINST THE WEB LOCALLY AT HIGH VELOCITY AND IN COUNTERCURRENT FLOW. 